The overcast sky hung low above the hospital garden. On one of the wooden benches, Evan sat alone, lost in thought. His tall, slender body was hunched over, head bowed. Though his face was handsome, his aura reflected fatigue and sorrow.
Soft footsteps approached Evan. A neatly dressed young man stood before him. His face was clean, with a pointed nose and a calming smile.
"Why are you sitting here alone?" he asked gently.
Evan slowly lifted his face but didn't respond. He raised his hands and began to sign.
"I can't speak," he signed.
The man, Serafim, smiled faintly. With equally fluent hand movements, he replied,
"I understand. Why are you here alone?"
Evan's eyes widened, surprised that Serafim understood sign language. Carefully, he began to tell his story through gestures. He explained that he was caring for his girlfriend, Arina, who was in a coma after an accident. He came to the garden seeking peace, but turmoil still echoed in his mind.
"You'll get through this," Serafim encouraged.
"Thank you. What's your name?" Evan signed.
"You can call me Serafim," he replied with a warm smile. "I believe you're a very strong person."
Before Evan could respond, Serafim stood up. "We'll meet again," he said, walking away and leaving Evan with his thoughts.
The next day, Evan looked disheveled in front of a food stall near the hospital. He had just argued with the vendor who didn't understand his needs. His order was wrong, and he struggled to explain what he wanted. The lack of communication turned into a disaster. The impatient vendor began yelling. Evan tried to sign, but it only made things worse. His face flushed with embarrassment and frustration.
Serafim arrived just in time, emerging from the crowd.
"Hey, calm down," he said, stepping in to mediate.
Kindly, Serafim helped Evan explain what he wanted. Once the misunderstanding was cleared and they got their food, Serafim took Evan—still shaken—by the arm and led him back to the hospital.
"Come on, I'll walk you back."
Back at the hospital, Evan invited Serafim into the room where Arina was being treated. He showed him Arina lying weakly in bed. Serafim said nothing, silently taking it all in.
Arina was a sign language teacher at an elementary school. She was known for her warmth and compassion.
One day, Evan was scolded by a restaurant owner due to miscommunication while eating alone. Arina happened to be there and helped resolve the misunderstanding. That was their first meeting, and from that moment, they began seeing each other more often.
Over time, their bond grew, and Evan tried to commit to Arina. But her family strongly opposed their relationship. Even so, Arina believed in their love and chose Evan. She sacrificed everything—leaving her family to be with him. Though their life was simple, they were happy because they supported and completed each other.
But happiness didn't last long. Arina's parents, still opposed to the relationship, tried to force her to return home. A heated argument broke out on the roadside near their house. Arina stood her ground. When she tried to leave with Evan, her mother, in a moment of rage, pushed Evan, nearly causing him to fall into the street. Arina quickly pulled him back, but her own body was thrown into the road—directly in the path of an oncoming truck. The accident left her in a coma.
From that day on, Serafim often visited Evan, who still held onto hope that Arina would wake up. But troubling news began to surface—Arina's condition was worsening. Her doctor had given up, and her family had resigned to the situation. Evan tried to stay strong, clinging to the belief that Arina would recover. He never left her side, even as his heart slowly broke.
One night, consumed by a storm of emotions, Evan reached a point of despair. He stood on the hospital rooftop, his thoughts dark. Without Arina, life felt meaningless.
"Stop! I know what you're thinking," Serafim said firmly.
Evan turned to see Serafim approaching him, pleading,
"Evan, I know you're in despair, but you can't give up. If you end your life now, the red thread that ties you to Arina will be severed forever. Not even in the next life will things end the way you hope."
Evan dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his face.
"I don't know what else to do. I just want to be with her. I want her to wake up and come back to me," he signed.
Serafim placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I can help you. But it won't be easy. If you want to save her, you must persuade her to return on her own. But… there is always a price."
"Whatever it takes, if it brings Arina back, I'll do it," Evan signed.
"Are you sure? Once you enter Arina's world, your soul might not return."
Evan paused, then nodded. "I'm ready. I'll do anything for Arina."
Serafim stood before him and closed his eyes. A strong wind blew, opening Serafim's coat, revealing a pair of large white wings spreading from his back. A soft, blinding light glowed from the feathers. With one sweep, he carried Evan into a very different world—dark, cold, and silent.
Confused, Evan looked around. The place resembled the real world but dimmed. He began searching for Arina, using memories of her habits and daily routines to guide him. After much searching, he found her standing in a thick fog. She gazed upward, as if waiting for something.
Evan ran toward her, gently tapped her shoulder, and signed,
"Arina, let's go home."
Arina turned, confused, then slowly smiled as she recognized him.
"Evan? How are you here?"
Evan embraced her tightly.
"I missed you so much. Let's go home. I'll never leave you."
Arina nodded. Gently, Evan took her hand and led her to a glowing door. Arina opened it and stepped through. The bright light blinded her. As her eyes adjusted, she awoke from the coma.
At the hospital, Arina's body stirred for the first time. Slowly, her eyes opened, and her consciousness returned. As she came to, she asked the doctors and nurses where Evan was—but no one knew.
Days passed. One morning, Arina took a walk in the hospital garden. She was exhausted and worried about Evan, but her body was still weak and under observation. Amid her anxiety, she spotted a familiar figure in the distance. Evan. He ran toward her with a wide smile. They embraced tightly, tears of joy flowing down their faces.
After Arina crossed the door of life and regained consciousness, Evan remained trapped in the dark world. He ran everywhere, trying to find a way back. After a long search and growing despair, Serafim appeared, bringing him light.
"Why are you helping me?" Evan asked before entering the glowing door.
Serafim gave a soft smile. "I feel like I've been through something like this before… I just had to help."
With deep gratitude, Evan stepped through the door of light—and began to wake up. Once he opened his eyes, he immediately rushed to the hospital to find Arina and hold her close.
***